Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors

Karen Pomroy – Board President, FounderLike many young children, I grew up loving animals, especially horses. I remember spending hours with my horses, brushing them, hugging them, jumping on their bare backs in the open field. My best memories were just being with them. I graduated from college with a BS in Business and Marketing which led me to various positions in the corporate world. The love of animals, and the need to help them continued to grow over the years. I would wake up every morning thinking of ways I could make a difference in animals’ lives, especially in the lives of horses. I knew the world was full of animal abuse, and knew that some day I needed to make a difference.In 1994, I quit my job and backpacked around the world for 18 months, primarily in third world countries. As I traveled, I saw how so many animals were mistreated, and realized that it was time for me to follow my heart. This trip changed my life. I knew I had to follow my path and leave the corporate world behind.I began by volunteering for a wild horse sanctuary in California, becoming part of the grass roots movement to help wild horses. The experience I gained from working with the horses, and being part of this new organization, was beyond my imagination. During this time, I learned about the plight of horses, all horses in America. I learned about the Premarin industry, the plight of Premarin mares and foals, and knew in my heart, that some day I would have a rescue and sanctuary to help the horses and to educate women about Premarin and natural alternatives to Premarin.Our companion animals are suffering needlessly, and because of this I have decided to start Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping save Premarin mares and foals from slaughter. The four babies we rescued in April, 2004, have brought so much joy to our lives. Like us, they are all very different, in color, personality and needs. I feel blessed to have saved them from a terrible fate, and welcome all of you to view them on our web site and to come and meet them in person.

Cindy Marcotte – Vice PresidentA graduate from Cornell University with a BS in animal science and communications, Cindy has balanced a career in advertising in New York City and is dedicating her free time to the arts of dressage and eventing. Cindy’s passion for animals started at a young age. Her first horse, Smokey Joe, taught her how building a relationship with horses can be the most gratifying experience for a human and how they can truly become our best friend. Today, Cindy has a Throughbred and a Canadian Sporthorse as part of her circle of friends.

Cindy is also active in local animal welfare organizations, including Pegasus Foundation, and takes a strong interest in the BRLA and Westchester Land Trust whose purpose is to retain open land for equestrian activities.

Her appointment to the board of Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. is an honor and she welcomes the opportunity to help the organization succeed in its mission to educate individuals of the truth behind the Premarin industry.

Jackie Cuyler – Board SecretaryJackie is currently serving as Equine Voices volunteer coordinator. A lifelong resident of northern Virginia, Jackie began volunteering with Equine Voices in 2004 during a short stay in Arizona. After retiring from twenty years in law enforcement she has two passions, a love for every living creature, which she learned from her mother, and a love of history. Jackie currently has two feline friends, Katie Scarlett and Bobbie Lee.

Dr. Carolyn Crowder – Board MemberCarolyn Crowder, PH.D is a licensed psychologist and has lived and practiced in the Tucson area (now in Tubac) for the past 30 years. She received her doctorate from the University of Arizona in 1980. Since then she has worked in many different settings including juvenile court, public schools, university counseling centers, Las Familias and the Department of Corrections.

Dr. Crowder specializes in parent training and is an Adlerian practitioner. She works with families to establish respectful, effective childrearing methods that are neither autocratic nor indulgent. She also maintains a small private practice and enjoys giving lectures about Adlerian principles to groups of parents, teachers and mental health professionals. Her current interest is the excesssive psychotropic drugging of children for behavioral problems.

Dr. Crowder has appeared on 20/20, Today, The Early Show, Dateline, NPR, and Liftime Live as well as many local TV and radio programs throughout the country. She is the author of three parenting books, the national bestseller Backtalk (1998), Whining (2000) and Eating, Sleeping and Getting Up (2002.)

Dr. Gregory Petersburg – Board MemberDr. Petersburg is a popular international speaker, educator, and consultant for physicians, healthcare leaders, and the public on issues of healthy lifestyles, proactive-aging medicine, the ‘art’ of medicine, and providing transformative patient experiences. Dr. Petersburg also conducts intensive hands-on clinical training programs for practitioners transitioning from a sickcare practice to lifestyle & proactive-aging medicine. His popular Art of Medicine workshops re-train physicians in the core competencies of medicine – patient-centeredness, compassion, empathy, art, humor & creativity in medicine – to become more effective change-agents for their patients. Additionally, as a ‘Designed Customer Experience’ expert, Dr. Petersburg provides personalized consulting services to forward-thinking leaders seeking to create captivating and transformative customer and employee experiences.

Dr. Gregory Petersburg specializes exclusively in lifestyle & proactive aging medicine. Individuals who aspire to take charge of their lives and optimize the experience of healthy aging travel from coast to coast to seek his clinical expertise. He maintains an active clinical practice in Tucson, Arizona. His business, Renascence, has been recognized as one of the top ten customer experience providers in the U.S. Dr. Petersburg is a graduate of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine and by the American Board of Osteopathic Family Physicians. His 40 years of clinical experience includes lifestyle & proactive-aging medicine, family medicine, and emergency medicine. Dr. Petersburg is a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine for the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.

Victoria L. Wilson – Board Member, CEO, Founder of Generation Financial, Financial Planner Victoria has called Arizona home since 1992 after graduation from the University of Connecticut. She has completed her course work with the Certified Financial Planning School of Standards and holds licenses in securities and insurance. (Series 7, 24, 31, 63, 65, and Health, Life and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses). After more than 20+ years in financial planning she surrounds herself with likeminded peers with access to some of the top economic and investment professionals in the world.

Victoria is passionate about making a difference in the lives of her clients and non-profits. Her experience started with the Tucson Rotary, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Botanical Gardens, the Sonoran Arts League, and the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson (VP of Finance and Foundation Chair). Currently Victoria serves on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground of Tucson and Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary. Victoria’s Favorites: Modern art, live music, hiking the Catalina Mountains, scuba diving in Belize, surfing the west coast, and playing with Duchess, a rescued Belgium Malinois. Money affords you the luxury of choice, your choices define your life… ~ Victoria L. Wilson

Staff

Melissa Anne Hamer – Ranch Manager My name is Melissa Anne Hamer, I am 28 years old, and have worked for Equine Voices for a little over 3 months. Two years ago, I moved here to Arizona from Florida; where I spent most of my life. I have always been very artistic and very passionate about animals. Over the years, I have gone through phases with drawing with charcoal, taking and developing my own photographs, creating art on Photoshop, writing poetry, and making jewelry. I sell the jewelry I make online and to family and friends as much as I can. I have considered making my art my way of making a living, but for me, it is more of an emotional release and a way of expressing myself. I simply didn’t want to lose my love for it by having to do it daily. When I was a child, I wanted to be a vet, but as I grew up I came to realize it wasn’t as glamorous as I had thought. However, when I was given the opportunity to work at a small horse rescue in Florida, I jumped at the chance. Soon after, I realized a new passion; equine care. From there I went to work at the stables my parents boarded their horses at: M&H Stables. This was the job that directed the course of my career. I absolutely loved it, everything about it, and so decided this was the type of work I wanted to do from then on. Sadly, this was the only thing I liked about the state I lived in, so when my parents retired and moved out to Arizona, I came with them. I was a cashier at a hardware store when I came to Equine Voices with my mother to volunteer. I met Karen and shortly after, became the weekend ranch manager, and got back into the work I love. A few months later, I was offered the full time ranch manager position and gladly accepted! Ever since I came to Equine Voices 3 months ago, everything in my life has fallen into place. I have never been happier or healthier and I owe it to this amazing rescue. I am still making and selling jewelry on the side, as more of a hobby. I write poetry regularly and try to make time for all of my artistic outlets.

April Ribblet – Executive AssistantApril grew up on a farm in FL, loving, and caring for a variety of animals including milking cows, horses, pigs, chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Horses however, have a special place in her heart because of their strong, yet calming spirits which have always spoken to her very own. April graduated from college in 2009 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a goal of building a career in a non-profit organization that benefits animals. Her goal is to combine her design skills with her love for animals. She began at Equine Voices as a volunteer and we learned quickly how much she loves helping the animals. April is currently our weekend Ranch Manager and works part time as an office administrator. April is very excited to be part of the Equine Voices team and looks forward to her future with our non-profit organization.

Advisory Board

Photo courtesy of Lori Faith Merritt

Anna Twinney Anna Twinney is a Natural Horsemanship Trainer, certified Reiki Master and animal communicator. Since being discovered by world-renowned Horse Whisperer “Monty Roberts”, Anna became the only person ever to be entrusted with the title of Head Instructor at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center in California. As the founder of the Reach Out to Horses® program based in Golden, Colorado her expertise is sought by equestrian centers, trainers, managers, breeders, sanctuaries, therapists and amateurs alike. Anna travels world-wide conducting classes and clinics to educate people & horses on gentle communication techniques while showing them how to have a true trust-based relationship. Anna has been featured on Martha Stewart’s “Living” TV show and in a BBC documentary, she also writes for national & international equine magazines. Anna brings a wealth of knowledge to her clinics – drawing upon a life-time of equine experience, and a decade of coaching thousands of international students. Anna is unique in her field as she solely works in the horses’ own language. She is not only one of the world’s leading teachers, but her interest in the “Language of Equus” has led her to focus increasingly on the power of animal communication to strengthen and deepen our relationships with all species. Her DVD series “Reach Out to Natural Horsemanship” launched on Horse TV January 2007.

Scott R. Meyer, CPAScott has been a resident of Tucson since 1969 and is a graduate of the University of Arizona as an undergraduate in 1975 and with a master’s degree in accounting in 1984. Scott has been a practicing Arizona CPA for 22 years, the last 11 being self-employed in his own practice. Scott specializes in providing tax, auditing and consulting services for individuals and small to medium size businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Scott has been active in the community service arena throughout his career, having been a member of the Kiwanis De Amigos since 1988 and has served on nonprofit boards such as Lighthouse YMCA, Friends of Saguaro National Park and HOPE. Through his church Scott is currently active in missions-related activities, including spearheading a quarterly service project for the Tucson Community Food Bank.

Michael Hutchison, DVM – Board MemberMichael D. Hutchison, DVM, cVMA, left Arizona for the first time to attend veterinary school at Colorado State University. Following his graduation in 1993 he and his family moved to Tucson. After working in a private practice for two years he ventured out on his own to start Madera Veterinary Hospital, a mixed-animal practice in the Rita Ranch area of Tucson. In 2008 Michael branched out to specialize in veterinary medical acupuncture, returning to Tucson to start Pegasus Equine Veterinary Service. As Pegasus, Michael currently treats horses in the greater Tucson area with acupuncture and holistically conventional veterinary medical care.